Releasing mako sharks: "there's an app for that"

Release Mako App

Before you hit the water this holiday weekend, check out these useful SmartPhone apps.

NOAA Fisheries' Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Division recently released a new app for Andriod phones that allows anglers to share information about catching and releasing shortfin mako sharks. The "Release Mako" application was designed using Google App Inventor, and it is the very first federal government tool of its kind.

Using the Release Mako app, anglers can now report live releases of shortfin mako sharks in real-time simply by using their Android mobile devices. The app uses GPS to fill in location coordinates on shortfin mako live releases and submits information via email by
fishermen, quite literally putting their mako on the Map.

Overfishing is occurring on the North Atlanitc shortfin mako shark population. By releasing shortfin mako sharks that are unintentionally caught or caught for sport, fishermen can lead the way for conserving this shark species.

If you're particularly smartphone savy, you can use the QR Code (to the right) by holding your smartphone to the screen and choosing QR code reader.

Smart Buoys On Your Smartphone

Although the first federal application to use Google App Inventor, Release Mako is the second time NOAA developed an Andriod application. Those looking for real-time observations of weather, water conditions, and water quality from up and down the Chesapeake Bay can now get data from NOAA's Interpretive Buoys. iPhone and Droid owners can now get buoy data in a flash by using the Smart Buoys app available in the iTunes and Android Market stores.